The Newburgh cops knew me. Partly as a local and partly, unfortunately, as the brother of one of the town’s drug dealers. My status as a veteran overcame some of that, but the cops still weren’t thrilled with my brother’s profession. Fortunately, most of the cops knew I wasn’t on that level. What kind of an idiot would bust his ass on a paper route every day if he was really a drug kingpin?

The police station house was located on Route 300, not far from the State of Mind Tavern. The station was quiet when I stepped inside and walked toward a heavyset desk sergeant. I knew the big guy was from Buffalo, and I appreciated that he listened to me, paid attention, and even looked at the photo of the three strangers in Marlboro.

“I’ve already been keeping an eye out for your cousin and asking a few questions, but no one has seen her down here in a few days. I guess you already knew she would hang out over at the tavern with your brother sometimes.”

I nodded my head, making sure I didn’t add my approval to it.

A tall, muscular patrolman who had already been on the force when I’d gotten back from the service stopped to see what we were talking about. The cop was named Tharpe and I recognized him from high school. He wore his brown hair in a crew cut like he just got out of the Marines. He took a look at the photograph on my phone and said, “Sorry, dropout, don’t recognize any of them.” Then he turned and pushed through the swinging double doors into the control room off the lobby.

I’d heard it before. Sometimes “dropout,” sometimes “washout.” I got it. I didn’t make it to the end of the SEAL course. It was just something I had to deal with.

A few minutes later, as I was headed out of town, I turned a few blocks out of my way to go past the State of Mind Tavern. The parking lot was packed and music pulsed from inside. There aren’t a lot of nightspot options in Newburgh.

I immediately spotted Natty standing at the edge of the parking lot, speaking on his cell phone. As I pulled the station wagon to the curb, he looked up and immediately walked toward me, ending his call.

Natty said, “Hey, Mitchum.” As he stepped up to the car and leaned down, he looked into the backseat.

I knew what he was looking for. I said, “Bart’s at home.”

“Why? Thought he went everywhere with you.”